WVTK Local & State News August 17, 2010

The Addison County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Middlebury has been named as one of Yankee Magazine’s top 25 towns in New England for fall foliage travel. This is the first time the magazine has ever ranked towns by this standard and Middlebury is ranked fifth. The September/October issue will on newsstands August 24th. Manchester, VT also makes the top 5.The

Lathrop Limited Partnership has appealed the denial of an Act 250 permit for its proposed Bristol gravel pit. The company’s years-long effort to get approval to extract sand and gravel from a lot off Rounds Road in Bristol returns to the Vermont Environmental Court.

State Police say a fire that destroyed a vacant home on North Railroad Avenue appears to have been set intentionally. Firefighters from Brandon and Pittsford were called out at 2 a.m. Saturday to fight the blaze. State Police are asking anyone with information about the fire to call the Vermont Arson Tip Award Program at 1-800-32 ARSON or Brandon Police.

A new computer use policy allows Rutland city employees to make personal use of the Internet at work as long as they don’t overdo it. The Rutland City Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the policy that was drafted by the board’s general committee. The new policy forbids sending or viewing sexually explicit images or messages and accessing websites “that are inappropriate in a business setting.”

Officials with the Southern Vermont Drug Task Force arrested 50-year-old Paul Turgeon following an investigation into cocaine distribution in the West Rutland area. Police say Turgeon sold cocaine to an undercover agent on two separate occasions. And they say he was found with 9 grams of coke at the time of his arrest. He's due in court next month to answer three felony charges, plus a charge of selling on school grounds.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has resumed clean-up work at a Superfund Site in Burlington. The EPA said repairs would be made at the Pine Street Barge Canal to an underwater cap that's aimed at stemming the spread of oil and tar residue into nearby wetlands and Lake Champlain. Work started yesterday will continue through late November.

Doug Racine, one of the democratic candidates for governor of Vermont, has released his economic development plan. Racine says he will focus first on stabilizing the economy. Racine says, if he's elected, his first economic priority will be a review of all state policies and programs to make sure dollars are being spent wisely.

A new law has gone into effect in New York, anyone convicted of drunk driving will be required to install an ignition interlock for 6 months. The devise requires the driver to blow into it; if their blood alcohol level is above a .025 then the car will not start. New York is the ninth state to mandate ignition interlocks.

Environmental advocates say the candidates for governor should focus on the state's natural assets when they discuss the state's economy. The head of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, Elizabeth Courtney, says the state's pristine image is the foundation of its economy.

The top official from New England's power grid operator says a cooperative approach holds the best hope for meeting New England's renewable energy goals. A report by the New England States Committee on Electricity in July encouraged the six states to work together to select projects and line up bidders.

Investigators in Jay, NY, are trying to figure out what started a fire that destroyed a historic home yesterday morning. Smoldering lumber is all that remains of the home that has overlooked Jay since the late 1800's. Neighbors say smoke started filling the house around 9 AM. Just a few minutes later, it was all up in flames.

A Vermont State Representative has passed away. Sonny Audette was 78 years old. He served in the legislature for the last 9 years representing South Burlington, but was not running for re-election this year. Audette was also the Public Works Director in South Burlington for more than 30 years. He served on the transportation committee for the last 6 years.

The condition of a man shot Friday night by a stray bullet fired in target practice is now downgraded to critical. 76-year-old Peter Damone was on his back deck Friday night when he was struck in the face by a bullet police say was fired at least a quarter mile away. At this point, prosecutors have not yet decided if they're going to file any charges.

Plattsburgh Mayor Donald Kasprzak is beginning to work on the 2011 budget. He says the goal for the 2011 budget is to keep the tax levy and tax rate stable, as well as water and sewer rates, without cutting jobs or services. The mayor will present his plan to the council by October 1st, as required by the City Charter.

In a motion filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, FairPoint Communications is seeking approval of the appointment of Paul Sunu as CEO of the company. Sunu will replace David Hauser, who has been the CEO for the past 14 months. Under the plan, Hauser will remain as a consultant to FairPoint until its emergence from Chapter 11.

A priceless Catholic Relic is back at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. Vermont state police discovered the religious artifact in Royalton after a man told police his partner, Earl Frost, had it in his possession. The religious artifact is said to have been made from the cross that Jesus was crucified on. Police are still looking for Frost who fled after turning the relic over to police.

Ticonderoga Federal Credit has begun their school supplies drive for area children in need. You can bring school supplies to any TFCU branch or ATM site, for collection. They will donate supplies collected at each site to the schools in closest proximity to that location, including: Ticonderoga Central School, St. Mary's School, Putnam Central School, Crown Point Central School, Moriah Central School, Westport Central School, Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School and Schroon Lake Central School. Standard supplies such as notebooks, pencils, and crayons are always popular and appreciated. However, larger items are in high demand such as backpacks, pencil boxes, binders, and calculators. Contact any TFCU branch for questions, or to obtain a wish list.